The Moth Presents Andrew Solomon: Notes on an Exorcism

Summary

In this compelling narrative, the speaker shares his journey from deep depression to recovery, exploring unconventional treatments across cultures. Initially a skeptic, he delves into various therapies, from medical to mystical. A pivotal experience in Senegal involves a ritual with a shaman, 'Madame D', which includes a symbolic 'wedding' with a ram and a community-driven exorcism. Despite his skepticism, the ritual's communal support and dramatic actions leave him feeling uplifted. The talk concludes with reflections on the importance of community and ritual in mental health, contrasting Western practices with the empowering approach of the Senegalese community.

Takeaways

• 📝 The speaker, Andrew Solomon, battled with severe depression and wrote about his journey to recovery.
• 💊 Initially, Solomon believed only medication and certain talking therapies could treat depression.
• 🔄 His perspective changed upon realizing that various treatments could alleviate depression if they improved one's mood.
• 🧘‍♂️ Solomon explored a wide range of treatments, from experimental brain surgeries to hypnotic regimens.
• 📝 A woman's yarn crafting helped her overcome depression, illustrating the diverse ways people can heal.
• 🌍 Solomon discovered that depression is not confined to Western cultures but is a universal human experience.
• 🇸🇳 In Senegal, he learned about tribal rituals and the 'unop', a traditional healing ceremony for depression.
• 🐏 Solomon participated in an 'unop', which involved a complex ritual including music, dancing, and animal sacrifice.
• 🩸 The central ritual involved Solomon being tied with animal intestines and burying the pieces of a sacrificed ram.
• 🌟 Despite not believing in the animistic principles, Solomon felt uplifted by the communal support and the ceremony's intensity.
• 📚 Solomon later learned that similar healing practices exist in Rwanda, emphasizing the importance of community and activity in mental health treatment.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial perspective on treatments for depression?

Initially, the speaker believed that only medication and certain talking therapies were effective treatments for depression.

How did the speaker's view on depression treatments evolve?

The speaker's view evolved to consider a wider range of treatments effective, realizing that if a treatment made someone feel better, it could be considered a cure for depression, which is an illness of how one feels.

What was the significance of the woman who made things from yarn in the speaker's research?

The woman who made things from yarn represented the idea that unconventional methods could be effective in treating depression, as she found relief through this activity.

Why did the speaker travel to Senegal?

The speaker traveled to Senegal to research tribal rituals used for treating depression, after learning about them from a friend living there.

Who is Madame D and what role does she play in the speaker's story?

Madame D is a practitioner of the unop, a traditional ritual for treating depression in Senegal. She plays a central role by conducting the ritual for the speaker.

What was required for the speaker to participate in the unop ritual?

To participate in the unop ritual, the speaker had to buy specific items including African fabric, a calabash, millet, sugar, cola beans, and live animals such as roosters and a ram.

What was the central part of the unop ritual like for the speaker?

The central part of the unop ritual involved the speaker getting into a makeshift wedding bed with a ram, being covered and buried under cloth by villagers dancing around, and then being 'released' with the ram's throat slit and covered in its blood.

How did the speaker feel after participating in the unop ritual?

The speaker felt exhilarated and 'up' after the ritual, even though they did not believe in the animistic principles behind it, due to the communal support and the unique experience.

What was the reaction of the Rwandan mental health worker to Western mental health practices?

The Rwandan mental health worker criticized Western mental health practices for not involving communal support, music, or outdoor activities, which they felt were necessary components for treating depression effectively.

Why were some Western mental health workers asked to leave Rwanda after the genocide?

Some Western mental health workers were asked to leave Rwanda because their practices did not align with the cultural needs and expectations for treating depression, lacking elements like community involvement and physical activity.